Fifteen spring practices didn't allow me to write about every UCLA player I wanted to. Throw in new offensive and defensive coordinators and a pseudo-quarterback competition involving the Bruins' top prospect in years and there was barely time to write about some of the team's most important players.

Rahim Moore spent more time than almost anyone in the green room and loved every minute of it.

The former UCLA safety broke into tears of joy, kissing his family, helmet and hat after the Denver Broncos selected him with the 45th overall pick, 13th of the second round.

"It's been a dream my whole life," Moore said. "It's funny how you can go from nothing to something. I never prayed to go in the first round. I prayed to go to the NFL."

Moore, who was the next to last player still in the green room, said he decided to attend the draft in New York for the experience even though he wasn't projected to go on the first day. He was flanked by several supporters, including his mother, who Moore said will move with him to Denver.

"Today I feel like I went No. 1 overall. I'm so excited," Moore said. "I knew I wasn't going to be a first-round draft pick, which is fine because I never planned to be one. I knew my range; I knew what I was going to be coming out of college.

By now you're probably well aware that UCLA linebacker Akeem Ayers is widely projected to go somewhere late in the first round of next week's NFL draft and safety Rahim Moore early in the second round.

They could be the only two Bruins drafted.

Kai Forbath had little margin for error because he's a kicker and his stock has only dropped since 2009. Some project him to go in the seventh round, some not at all.

But there's another Bruin whose trajectory has been heading in the opposite direction.

Rahim Moore had just finished his Pro Day workout when an NFL scout reminded him of their upcoming meeting.

“Don't be late,” said the scout, whose team has a late first-round draft pick. “You might still be on the board (when we pick).”

All eyes were on Moore and Akeem Ayers at UCLA's Pro Day, which showcased about a dozen former Bruins in front of NFL scouts. Moore has seen his draft stock rise after an impressive showing at the NFL combine in February. He chose not to run the 40-yard dash on Tuesday, not wanting to risk running slower than his combine times (4.53, 4.62).

Moore said his dialog with the NFL has included some teams seeing him as a potential cornerback. The former All-American is the consensus top safety heading into April's draft but is projected as a late-first- to mid-second-round selection.

“Sometimes I feel like people underestimate me,” Moore said. “Some people think I'm weak, which is fine with me because it makes me work harder. I want to be the underdog, I want to be underrated. I want to be underestimated. It brings the best out of me.”

Coach Rick Neuheisel said on the eve of UCLA's spring camp, which begins today and concludes 15 practices later on April 23, that all starting jobs are open. He has also acknowledged he is speaking for himself.

The fourth-year coach enters this spring in a fragile situation after UCLA fell to 4-8 for the second time in three seasons, dropping his overall record to 15-22.

UCLA's offense took a step sideways in 2010, its dramatic improvement in the run game negated by a free-fall in the pass game that left the Bruins ranked 104th in scoring. The defense, which had anchored the team the past few seasons, took two steps back in finished 86 in scoring defense.

But Neuheisel isn't going down without a fight. He replaced his offensive and defensive coordinators and three more assistants, the former quarterback electing to coach the position himself and have a greater hand in the offensive game plan.

“It's an important time for us given all the changes we've made, staff wise,” Neuheisel said.

Here is the complete version of the statement by UCLA All-America free safety Rahim Moore, who announced Friday morning that he will skip his senior season in Westwood to enter the 2011 NFL Draft.

STATEMENT FROM RAHIM MOORE

First, I would like to give thanks to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for blessing me with this opportunity at UCLA. If it wasn't for him, there would be no Rahim Moore. I'm blessed and fortunate to be able to attend a school like UCLA and this is a journey that I will never forget.

I want to thank my mother - my angel - my "grand prize" for the being the great mother she is, for always giving me the guidance throughout my whole life to make me the man I am today. I would like to thank all my coaches, from Pop Warner football all the way through college; starting with Coach Doug Williams, who gave me the confidence to be able to play this game. Coach Knox, my high school head coach, was phenomenal. Coach Carver shared his knowledge and wisdom to make me the defensive back that I am today, not only just football but a father off the field. I would like to thank Coach Caldwell and Coach Tracy for disciplining me at a young age and always pushing me to strive for excellence.